Anti-drug campaign goes ‘house-to-house'

By Jeehan V. Fernandez

Taking the campaign against illegal drugs into the basic unit of society, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has implemented the “house-clustering” drive to keep a tight watch on this unlawful activity in the villages.

Police Regional Office (PRO-6) director Chief Supt. George L. Aliño is optimistic that by the end of the year, authorities will be able to reduce the number of drug-affected barangays in Western Visayas .

Police have identified 85 barangays in the region which are “still unclear” of the illegal drug trade. Although, Aliño noted that there has been the sustained neutralization as the remaining areas were the only ones left from the list of more than 400 barangays.

With the new campaign, Aliño stressed that there are 20,000 house clusters all over the region. He said that every house cluster has been put under “a person of leadership” to supervise if there is drug pusher or user in the area.

Aliño added this was realized after the chiefs of police conducted a dialogue with the barangay captains and members of households. “There will be close coordination efforts with the barangay heads,” he said.

“We also require the barangay captains for cooperation,” Aliño said citing the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) directive urging the local chief executives to lead the anti-drug program.

Aliño pointed out the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council (BADAC) should be organized as it creates a big role in the implementation of the campaign. He also cited that the lawless elements have been shifting to marijuana since shabu has become very expensive.